Tampa, FL — Burger 21®, a new fast casual concept founded by the owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., has signed a franchise deal to open one restaurant in Vorhees, N.J., in spring 2013, expanding the beyond-the-better-burger concept’s footprint to the Northeast and its total units to 10. This new development is part of Burger 21’s aggressive growth campaign for national expansion.

As a current franchisee of Burger 21’s affiliate concept, The Melting Pot®, Charlie Haney, along with business partners Curt Wunder and Mike Astuto, decided to expand upon their portfolio based on the extensive training and support received over the years from Front Burner Brands, the concepts’ management company.

“Charlie and his team are tremendous ambassadors of The Melting Pot brand, and we strongly believe the same attributes that make them successful with The Melting Pot will position them for success with our new better burger franchise concept, Burger 21,” says Dan Stone, vice president of franchise development for Front Burner Brands.

Since February 2012, the burger franchise has signed four agreements to develop a total of six franchised units in the Atlanta, Orlando, Fla., and Vorhees, N.J., markets, in addition to the development of two more corporate-owned locations in the Tampa Bay area for a total of 10 franchised and company-owned units.

Burger 21 is seeking single and multi-unit operators with restaurant experience in New Jersey and throughout the country to join its upscale fast casual dining concept.

Founded in 2010, Burger 21 has two locations open in Tampa, Fla., and eight in development in Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta and Voorhees, N.J. Burger 21 is an affiliate of Front Burner Brands, a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla. For more information, visit http://www.burger21.com.

Front Burner Brands (formerly known as TGS Restaurant Management) is a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla. It is affiliated with the corporate owners of and its management services extended to The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., founded in 1975 with more than 140 locations in North America and more than 15 locations currently in development; Burger 21 with two locations open in Tampa and eight in development; GrillSmith with six locations in the Tampa Bay area and other new franchise concepts in development. For more information, visit http://www.frontburnerbrands.com.